Tillage Sector: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2025-10-15
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

The Minister spoke earlier about what needs to be done to protect family farms. We have all spoken about that issue many times. We know the dangers that are oncoming for farmers. Many of my colleagues have already spoken about fears over the loss of the nitrates derogation. There is also absolute fear around Mercosur. We require the Government to step up to the mark on these dangers and the possible changes we are looking at in CAP funding.
I have just come from a meeting of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs. Last week, the committee met representatives of the Council of the Regions and we met this afternoon with representatives of the regional assemblies. One of the issues they brought up was the issue of CAP funding and cohesion funding becoming one and the same, and a cut to that funding. That will have an impact not only on farmers but also on the wider community. They all spoke of other things that need to be done, including streamlining and the resources that are required, but that would be beyond the remit and I could not possibly talk about it at the moment.
We are here to talk about the tillage sector. As has been said by many previously, it has not been an easy time. While some circumstances have improved in some of the other sectors, we are dealing with a move away from tillage farming. There has been a 42% reduction in tillage since 1980, including a 15% reduction in the past decade. The majority of Irish tillage produce goes towards livestock feed, but we still import approximately 3.5 million tonnes of animal feed every year. We are only 36% self-sufficient in respect of animal feed. The Government previously stated its intention to increase that percentage, but we have not seen the follow-through from a budgetary point of view. Farmers would say they have not seen the colour of the Government's money in that regard.
As many of my colleagues have said, 3,000 tonnes of grain are used in the drinks industry annually. While that is growing, year on year, it is not a requirement that Irish whiskey and spirits use Irish grain in order to be classed as Irish whiskey or spirits. Many people would not believe you if you told them that. Many things need to be addressed in that regard.
We grow approximately 4,200 ha to 4,500 ha of field vegetables annually. That is valued somewhere between €73 million and €76 million. We are only about 60% self-sufficient. We can all work out the mathematics. Approximately 40% are imported.
We are dealing with a sector that provides a huge amount of employment but I do not think that the work has been done in relation to this. The Government promised €50 million in the budget for the tillage sector, but the expectation would be for a lot more. That amount is the same as was given last year. We know the tillage sector was looking for a package of €92 million over five years, which would give a payment of €350 per hectare. We need to offer something substantial in order to deliver.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-10-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:13+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-10-15